Comprehensive medication guide to Norgesic including estimated pricing, availability information, side effects, and how to find it in stock at your local pharmacy.
Estimated Insurance Pricing
$0 copay for eligible commercially insured patients with the Galt PAP card (up to $150 per fill). Coverage varies by plan; some formularies may require step therapy or prior authorization for the brand formulation. Generic orphenadrine/aspirin/caffeine may be covered at a lower tier.
Estimated Cash Pricing
$30 for 60 tablets or $45 for 90 tablets through Galt's dispensing pharmacy program; retail cash price without assistance can exceed $1,413 for 60 tablets. Eligible commercially insured patients may pay $0 per fill via the Galt copay assistance card (up to $150 coverage).
Medfinder Findability Score
35/100
Summarize with AI
On this page
Norgesic is a brand-name prescription tablet that combines three active ingredients: orphenadrine citrate (25 mg), aspirin (385 mg), and caffeine (30 mg). Manufactured by Galt Pharmaceuticals, it is classified as a multimodal, opioid-free pain reliever for mild to moderate acute musculoskeletal pain.
Norgesic is FDA-approved for symptomatic relief of pain from acute musculoskeletal disorders including muscle strains, sprains, and overuse injuries. It is used alongside rest and physical therapy, not as a standalone treatment. A higher-dose formulation is available as Norgesic Forte or Orphengesic Forte (50mg/770mg/60mg).
Norgesic is not a controlled substance (no DEA schedule) and has been prescribed over 3 million times according to IQVIA and Symphony Health data. It is available exclusively through specialty pharmacies — not at standard retail chains.
We have a 99% success rate finding medications, even during nationwide shortages.
Need this medication?
Norgesic works through three simultaneous mechanisms — one for each active ingredient. Orphenadrine citrate is a centrally acting muscle relaxant that interrupts the pain-spasm-pain feedback cycle in the brainstem. It selectively reduces the facilitatory functions of the reticular formation, decreasing muscle tension and central pain amplification without directly relaxing muscle fibers.
Aspirin inhibits cyclooxygenase (COX) enzymes, reducing prostaglandin production at the site of injury. This addresses peripheral inflammation and pain sensitization — the local component of muscle injury pain that orphenadrine cannot reach. The 385 mg aspirin dose per tablet provides meaningful anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect.
Caffeine acts as an adjuvant analgesic by blocking adenosine receptors in the brain. This enhances the efficacy of both orphenadrine and aspirin, partially offsets orphenadrine's sedating effects, and modulates central pain signaling. The 30 mg caffeine per tablet is pharmacologically active without causing significant caffeine-related side effects for most patients.
25mg/385mg/30mg — tablet
Standard Norgesic tablet: orphenadrine citrate 25mg / aspirin 385mg / caffeine 30mg. Adults: 1-2 tablets 3-4 times daily.
50mg/770mg/60mg — tablet
Norgesic Forte / Orphengesic Forte tablet: orphenadrine citrate 50mg / aspirin 770mg / caffeine 60mg. Adults: 0.5-1 tablet 3-4 times daily.
Norgesic is genuinely difficult to find at standard retail pharmacies — not because of an FDA-declared shortage, but because of its specialty-only distribution model. Galt Pharmaceuticals distributes Norgesic exclusively through specialty pharmacies, meaning CVS, Walgreens, Walmart, and most independent retail pharmacies cannot order or stock it. Patients are frequently surprised to find their prescription can't be filled locally.
Sterling Specialty Pharmacy is the primary dispensing partner and can mail Norgesic to patients nationwide. Galt's Patient Assistance Program offers the medication for as little as $30 for 60 tablets for uninsured patients and $0 for eligible commercially insured patients when filling through the designated dispensing pharmacy.
Generic orphenadrine/aspirin/caffeine is available at some independent pharmacies with inconsistent stocking. To find which pharmacies near you can fill your Norgesic prescription without calling each one, use medfinder — it contacts pharmacies on your behalf and texts you the results.
Since Norgesic is not a controlled substance, any licensed healthcare provider with prescriptive authority can write a prescription. There are no DEA-specific requirements, no PDMP check mandates, and no restriction on the number of refills beyond standard state prescription laws.
Primary care physicians (family medicine, internal medicine)
Orthopedic surgeons and sports medicine physicians
Physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM&R) physicians
Urgent care providers
Nurse practitioners (NPs) and physician assistants (PAs) with prescriptive authority
Norgesic can also be prescribed via telemedicine, as confirmed by Galt Pharmaceuticals. Telehealth platforms offering same-day appointments for musculoskeletal pain (Teladoc, MDLive, Amwell) are all viable options for obtaining a prescription. The telehealth provider can route the prescription directly to the Galt specialty dispensing pharmacy network.
No. Norgesic is not a controlled substance. It carries no DEA schedule and is not subject to the prescribing restrictions, prescription monitoring program (PDMP) requirements, or refill limitations that apply to scheduled controlled substances like opioids or benzodiazepines.
This makes Norgesic relatively simple to prescribe — any licensed prescriber (physician, NP, PA) can write it without DEA-specific documentation, and it can be called in, faxed, or e-prescribed like most standard medications. Refills are permissible subject to your state's general prescription rules and your prescriber's clinical judgment.
Most side effects are mild and related to orphenadrine's anticholinergic properties or aspirin's GI effects:
Dizziness and lightheadedness
Drowsiness
Dry mouth
Blurred vision / dilated pupils
Nausea and stomach upset
Constipation
Tachycardia (fast heartbeat) and palpitations
Urinary hesitancy or retention
Headache and ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
GI hemorrhage: Bloody, black, or tarry stools; blood in vomit — aspirin can rarely cause serious GI bleeding
DRESS syndrome: Rash with fever, lymphadenopathy, internal organ involvement — potentially fatal, stop medication immediately
Anaphylaxis: Difficulty breathing, throat closing, swelling of face/lips/tongue — call 911
Reye's Syndrome risk: Do not use during flu, chickenpox, or viral illness — aspirin + viral illness increases Reye's Syndrome risk, especially in children
Know what you need? Skip the search.
Cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril)
Widely available generic muscle relaxant; no built-in NSAID component; most commonly prescribed alternative. Available at all retail pharmacies.
Methocarbamol (Robaxin)
Non-controlled muscle relaxant with less sedation than cyclobenzaprine; widely available generic; often paired with a separate NSAID.
Tizanidine (Zanaflex)
Short-acting alpha-2 agonist muscle relaxant; particularly useful for spastic muscle conditions; monitor blood pressure.
Orphengesic / Orphengesic Forte
Identical formulation to Norgesic; same Galt Pharmaceuticals specialty pharmacy distribution. If Norgesic is not available by name, Orphengesic is the same drug.
Prefer Norgesic? We can find it.
Warfarin / Anticoagulants
majorAspirin's antiplatelet effect combined with anticoagulants significantly increases bleeding risk. Monitor INR closely; most providers avoid this combination.
Ketorolac (Toradol)
majorContraindicated combination — both aspirin and ketorolac are NSAIDs. Combining dramatically increases serious GI bleeding and ulceration risk.
Opioids / Benzodiazepines
majorOrphenadrine adds to CNS depressant effects. Combining with opioids or benzodiazepines can cause dangerous sedation or respiratory depression.
Other NSAIDs (ibuprofen, naproxen)
moderateAdditive GI irritation, ulcer, and bleeding risk. Avoid combining Norgesic with other NSAIDs including OTC products.
Alcohol
moderateIncreases sedation from orphenadrine and GI bleeding risk from aspirin. Avoid alcohol entirely while taking Norgesic.
Tricyclic antidepressants
moderateOverlapping anticholinergic effects with orphenadrine; additive dry mouth, urinary retention, confusion.
Corticosteroids
moderateCombined use with aspirin increases GI ulcer and bleeding risk.
Norgesic is a well-established, opioid-free multimodal muscle relaxant that has been prescribed over 3 million times for acute musculoskeletal pain. Its combination of orphenadrine, aspirin, and caffeine provides broader pain coverage than single-ingredient alternatives — addressing both the central muscle spasm and peripheral inflammation components of muscle injury pain.
The primary challenge with Norgesic in 2026 is not efficacy — it's access. The specialty-only distribution model means most retail pharmacies cannot fill it. However, the Galt Patient Assistance Program makes it genuinely affordable: $0 for eligible commercially insured patients and $30 for 60 tablets for uninsured patients, with home delivery included.
If you've been prescribed Norgesic and your local pharmacy can't fill it, don't give up. Use medfinder to find pharmacies near you that can fill your prescription, or ask your prescriber to route to Sterling Specialty Pharmacy for mail-order delivery nationwide.
Medfinder Editorial Standards
Our medication guides are researched and written to help patients make informed decisions. All content is reviewed for accuracy and updated regularly. Learn more about our standards
ChatGPT
Claude
Perplexity
Grok
Gemini